Aston Martin is quite aware of the perception—we’d call it the reality—that its cars all look more or less the same. When leering at test mules for Aston’s refreshed Rapide, one gets the feeling that’s going to be the case moving forward, as the car appears as if it will be lightly reworked and simply adopt details swiped from the brand-new Vanquish. But we’re told that Aston has a trick up its sleeve, and the reworked four-door will display at least one major alteration when it debuts via an info and photo dump in December or January.

According to our sources, the Rapide mules feature dummy panels up front, and they disguise what’s described as a gaping, “V-12 Zagato–like” maw. The car will make its in-the-metal debut at the Geneva auto show in March.

Before we see the revised Rapide, though, Aston will reveal the follow-up to the V-12 Vantage Carbon Black Edition. Details on the second 12-cylinder Vantage Carbon are scarce, but all such editions—the DBS Carbon and the DBS Carbon Black, for example—have a few things in common: carbon fiber is applied to the mirror caps, rear valance, front splitter, taillight trim, dashboard, and door sills; a bespoke paint job taking an absurd amount of hand-finishing is applied; and new brake-caliper colors are made available. They also usually bring smoked taillight lenses, an interior swathed in leather and faux suede, and special wheels. This sort of treatment historically has added between $15,000 and $20,000 to the sticker price, so don’t expect to pay a lesser premium for the next one.

Moving into 2013, Aston Martin plans two more reveals: a refresh to the V-12 Vantage—we wonder if the upcoming V-12 Carbons will serve as send-offs to the pre-revision model, as did the DBS Ultimate before that car was replaced by the Vanquish—and the Vanquish Volante. Details on both are expected next year.